MATCH REPORT MUNICH CC V LUFTHANSA MAY 18 2002
A beautiful summer’s day in the scenic English Garden seemed to be the order of the day. Or was it?
According to local weather reports it could empty hailstones and icy golf balls at any time during the afternoon. Electrical storms thunder and lightning but when? This seemed to affect the paranoid MCC skipper’s thinking. Renowned for his dislike of inclement cricketing conditions – the threat of these huge missiles soon to empty down from the sky were to play a pivotal role in Saturday’s opening 2002 league fixture.
With Lovell losing the toss once again in pure Hussain fashion MCC took to the field against Lufthansa on what was a bloody hot and steamy afternoon with temperatures approaching a tropical 30degrees in the middle. Personally it reminded me of Eden Gardens without the ceremonial burning of programmes and seats by disgruntled supporters. What was really needed were senior members of the club (i.e. Treasurer Giles, Chairman Bradley, Chief Nachwuchs breeder Carr and scorer Hamilton) to perform a type of Morris-dance with cricket bats to keep the demon storms away until stumps.
Dangerous Lufthansa left-hander, captain and senior pilot savagely cut the 3rd ball of the opening Hebel over to the boundary. He repeated the stroke next ball, middling it uppishly towards surfer Grier patrolling the covers. He took it nonchalantly, pouched it and wondered what all the fuss was about. A great catch made to look all too easy. This set the pattern for the day.
Entrusted with the new ball on their MCC league debuts Willing n’Hebel and ‘Maysie’ Mcgree ripped through the Lufthansa co-pilots taking 3 wickets each. Hebel with 3-11 and Mcgree with 3-23 with the majority bowled through the boarding gate as the Lufthansa batsman took off for departure earlier than they would have liked. Bostock joined in the fun and picked up the next pouched by van Driver at 3rd slip before the loveable Pom was (deservedly?) took off for taking too long to get back to his mark. Sembian Harbajan took 2 wickets with his spinners and van Driver raced in to take another clean bowled as Lufthansa landed on a meagre 60 all out in around 23 overs.
A very tasty tea with all mod cons was taken, courtesy Dr Vanessa & Matt Parry. A marvellous effort indeed. He is in danger of being asked again. It seemed that the MCC batsman seemed intent on getting back to the hatch to partake in a few more tasty sarnies as the Lufthansa opening bowler ripped out the top order with 5 good wickets. Power, Van Driver, Hebel, Grier and Scott were all removed. All bowled except for Power who chipped one back to the bowler before he hastily returned for small talk with his inlaws who had travelled all the way from England to see him bat. Sembian top scored with 23* before he was joined by the skipper as the MCC ‘cruised’ home by 5 wickets with shitloads of overs to go.
The match finished around 5pm whereupon we awaited with baited breath the imminent arrival of these dreaded and hideous hailstorms. They did come but only after 9pm when most of the unconvinced MCC amateur weathermen were tucking into their 5th beer or getting their pipes cleaned. And so it came to pass that Paul Scott of the Antarctic, MCC bowler of their year 2001 was ultimately denied a bowl for having too long a gallop. What a funny old game it is Richie! But he’ll keep.
MCC team.
MARK ‘BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY’ LOVELL CPT
WAYNE VAN DRIVER (NO SIGN OF NECKSCARF)
STEVE POWER & UNIMPRESSED DORSET INLAWS
AMOS GLADSTONE HEBEL
HAZZA HAZZA HAZZA KHAN (WK)
PAUL SCOTT OF THE MUNICH TROPICS
PAUL QUIET MAN MCGREE
JASON ROID GRIER
DR MATT TEACOSY & SCARF PARRY
ANDREW POGUE & SHAMBOSTOCK
DR SEMBIAN APPAVU OF SHABASHLAND
Camouflaged chairmanesque green-panted guru Desmond Bradley
Scorer & Bat repairman John Hamilton
Umpire Mansoor (Pak Orient)
MCC Batsman chasing 61 to win.
Van dalsum
Bowled
5
Power
C&B
2
Hebel
Bowled – gate
0
Grier
Bowled, head up
9
Sembian
Shabash – not out
23*
Scott
Bowled
3
Lovell
Not out
2*
Bostock
dnb
0
Mcgree
Dnb
0
Parry
Dnb
0
Khanna wk
Dnb
0
TOTAL
17.4 overs
61-5
Lufthansa 60 all out. MCC WON BY 5 wkts.
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Hebel cranky
7
2
12
3
Quiet man Mcgree
8
3
23
3
Sembian
4
1
13
2
Spunk stock
3
1
5
1
Van Driver
2
0
2
1
MATCH REPORT MUNICH CC V MICC JUN 1ST 2002 IN ENGLISH GARDEN
Another hot and sultry day in the English Garden with, unusually, for this time of the year no apparent or imminent threat of golf-ball sized hailstones. Or were there?
The selectorial committee has stuck to the same tried and trusted formula with an unchanged line-up from the opening league game versus Lusthansa. This meant no place for the ‘injured’ captain of serious vice Blades who made his distaste well apparent for this perhaps harsh decision by performing a streak from the cover boundary at the tea interval. Or was it Max Walker?
Lovell won a toss for the first time since he started wearing long trousers and decided to bat first in the tropical temperatures. Van Driver disappointed all his fans all over the world by again deciding against the use of the elegant neckscarf and goggles. This is the final straw after the ceremonial burning of the ‘diahorrea’ pads and the giving away of an expensive club cap to a dodgy potential pipe cleaner after the German finals defeat in Moenchengladbul. It needed serious moral support from his partner Power to overcome this bad fashion decision as they set upon building a solid MCC base.
This proved to be well within their combined capabilities as the pair progressed smoothly to 80 for no loss at the 20over interval with some excellent running between the wickets. Spin had replaced the military medium trundlers and put the brakes on as Sweet Stevie P went caught behind for 33.
Van Driver soon followed caught and bowled for 39 as the MICC spinners threatened to bowl themselves back into the game. Lovell failed to impress and ultimately bored himself out going caught behind.
This brought Sembian to join Hebel and the pair brought the dying dregs of the innings back to life with some positive hitting. Hebel was out in the last over for 32 caught going for another six. Sembian meanwhile had progressed serenely to an unbeaten 48 off just 35 balls. Shabash.
Roid Grier unselfishly ran himself out off the penultimate ball as he attempted to give the little Indian master the strike.
MCC had finished, despite a momentary blip on an imposing 176-5 off their 40overs. Tea was taken courtesy of Kiwi Shamrocks. Great sandwiches. What a catch this eloquent young man might prove to be for any young single women reading this report out there. If only he could lose the very dodgy glaring Hawaii style shirts and singlet vests he would be right up there with the likes of Schmidthuber and van Driver vying for the title of MCC most eligible bachelor of the year 2002.
Patience was the key thing conveyed by the captain in the half-time pep talk. These words seemed pretty futile initially, as Scott struck with just the second ball as Grier scooped another good catch in the covers. Poguestock soon removed the other MIC opener ‘s furniture.
Catches then went down behind the wicket off Scott. Firstly the skipper was struck on the tit at first slip, the ball rebounding to the ground as he rebounded backwards on impact. Then Hazza spilled the same batsman diving to his right. Scott bowled with ‘guts’ and fire to finish with 1-15 off his 8 overs.
Wayne came on and immediately broke through bowling the next through the gate before he made way for the spin twins (quiet man Mcgree & Sembian) after the break.
There then followed a 12 over period where the away side started to bat well and pressurised the home side’s spin attack and the somewhat flustered fielders. Mcgree, perhaps somewhat perturbed at the sudden appearance of his fraulein on the boundary was given the long stick at times but recovered his composure well. He must have been bowling well as the opposition were soon accusing him of negative bowling a mere few inches outside off stick. It was Willin’n Hebel who turned things round with a rapid pick-up and direct hit to remove the dangerman Waleed. Great fielding. His partner finally (after surviving 3 drops) followed him back to the hatch as he heaved across the line to Sembian. This was game set and match to MCC as Dr Parry, Beau Stock and Sembian all took good catches as the opposition innings melted instantaneously.
Hebel (1-11) and Beau Stock (2-18) performed the last rites as MICC were bowled out for 127 with 4.1 overs remaining.
MCC 176-5
MICC 127 ALL OUT
MCC WON BY 49 RUNS
Sembian took the man of the match award (a lit Phillip Morris cigarette) after his unbeaten 48 2-30 off 8overs and a splendid catch on the run.
MCC TEAM
LOVELL (BRUISED TIT)
VAN DRIVER (SIXT)
POWER (NO PASS NEEDED)
HEBEL (FLOWER POT HAT)
GRIER (FRED A-STEROID)
MCGREE (NEGATIVE BOWLER)
SEMBIAN (TOTALLY SHABASH)
PARRY (DR DEREK STIRLING)
HARRY (NEW GLOVES)
BOSTOCK (LORD SHAMROCK)
SCOTT (2 JUMPERS ONLY)
MCC Batsman
Van dalsum
Caught&Bowled
39
Power
Caught behind
33
Lovell
Caught behind
4
Hebel
Caught sub
32
Sembian
Not out – shabash
48*
Grier
Run out – unselfishly
0
Scott
Not out
0
Bostock
Dnb
0
Mcgree
Dnb
0
Parry
Dnb
0
Khanna wk
Dnb
0
TOTAL
40 overs
176-5
MICC all out for 127. MCC WON BY 49 RUNS.
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Scott (4 jumpers only)
8
1
15
1
Bostock
7
1
18
2
Hebel
4.5
0
11
1
Van Halen
2
0
8
1
Quiet man Mcgree
8
1
42
1
Sembian
8
1
30
2
LEAGUE MCC V CCB JUN 8 IN ENGLISH GARDEN
Once again the sun gods came to the party and we were blessed with fantastic playing conditions. Losing the toss MCC were asked to bat. A decision at the time which seemed strange but paid off handsomely.
Stevie Power was the first to go playing across his stumps and was bowled leg stump. Skipper Lovell came to the crease looking full of confidence only to nonchalantly pat one to square leg. When Wayne Van Driver went for a slash (to a very wide one) outside off stump and was caught, MCC were 3 down for not many and game had opened up.
Sem-Bien and Andy H. steadied the ship somewhat with a productive partnership, runs coming freely as the result of some loose bowling. However having both departed (both to pretty exotic shots), and at 80/5 at the 20 over (drinks) break the situation of the game was evenly poised.
What came next can only be described as some of the worst batting you could ever want to see from a batting side. From 80/5 the MCC fell from grace to be out for 101 (from just 27 of the allotted 40 overs!). An atrocious effort given the great batting conditions, amount of overs available, and the very tasty buffet bowling at the teams disposable. Matt Parry decided to go farming and was bowled courtesy of a very agricultural swipe. Paul M’gree fell to a juicy full toss (which should have had the patrons in the Chinese Bier garden looking for a hard red object), instead it went straight to a jubilant square leg. Kiwi Bostock played all over a straight yorker and was bowled. Butcher Smith came in and started playing as if he’d been there all day, swatting a boundary and a couple of 2’s, he proceeded to then try swatting another one and was comprehensively bowled. The shot however did resemble more like a fly swatting exercise in Australia in summer. Hazza Khan was the last to go caught at point not getting on top of (or not hitting hard enough) a very wide one. Tone Blades was left not out and the innings came to a close. Some very angry and disturbed faces were left wondering of what could have been?
The interval was a good reflecting time and Sem-bien’s sandwiches and teas were much enjoyed! Well done. The CCB’s innings started slowly, Andy H and Kiwi Bostock bowling a good line, both bowling with accuracy and pace. The first wicket fell due a fine catch by P.M’gree, catching it on his second attempt.
CCB’s Skipper Kev Miles played one on (from Andy H) to a slight touch, which flicked the off bail. Pretty unlucky way to get out really, but he played and missed at more balls than he actually got bat on. From that point onwards the innings fell apart.
Kiwi Bostock finished his 8 overs with 3 wickets to his name, and P. M’gree bowled an excellent spell to finish also with 3 wickets. Wayne Van Driver also picked up a valuable middle order scalp. The tail wagged somewhat and it came down to a situation where the CCB needed only 38 to win with 2 wickets in hand. Tone blades stepped in and took the last 2 wickets, Paul M’gree taking the last catch. So, CCB all out for 69. A win for the MCC by 32 runs.
A good comeback by the MCC, an excellent bowling performance against a team who in all honesty didn’t really have a top order batsman. The bowlers made up for the terrible performance of the batsman.
A very valuable lesson was learnt and the same mistake can’t be repeated on the 22nd of June when the MCC take on SFLCC.
Cheers Kiwi.
MCC Batsman
Van dalsum
Caught bizarrely
30
Power
Bowled behind legs
2
Lovell
Caught flicking
0
Hebel
Caught
15
Sembian
Caught
20
Parry
Bowled – farming
0
Mcgree
Caught square-leg
2
Bostock
Bowled (not lbw)
3
Khanna wk
Caught – farming
4
Smith
Bowled
8
Blades
Not out
0
TOTAL
27.1 overs
101 all out
CCB all out for ’69’. MCC WON BY 32 RUNS.
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Bostock
8
4
9
3
Hebel
8
2
19
1
Van Halen
6
3
7
1
Quiet man Mcgree
8
4
15
3
Blades
4.2
2
13
2
Sembian
1
0
3
0
Power
1
0
1
0
MATCH REPORT MUNICH CC V FSL — June 22, 2002 LEAGUE IN ENGLISH GARDEN
On a day that would have had the good folk of Kandy or Colombo scrambling for the shade, the MCC were asked to go out and field under a blazing sun.
The wearers of the baggy black-and-gold are made of tough stuff however and there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Sri Lankans would be skittled well inside the 40 overs. It was good to see some unexpected faces too, even if they were rapidly getting sunburnt: van Driver back from Spain early, Ian Finch stepping in for the hypothermic Robert Falconer (Paul) Scott, and the umpiring contingent from MIC replacing Dave Weatherall. (While an FSL victory might have been in MIC’s interest, getting an LBW suddenly became a distinct possibility for the bowlers.)
In a move that surprised everyone, including the bowler who was still getting changed as he made his way onto the field, the skipper asked Mystery Maysie to open the bowling. FSL survived the first over and McGree was then relieved by Willing-and-Able at the Scoreboard End, but the opening bats were clearly unnerved and in no mental shape to handle the pace attack of the two Andys. A super opening spell from both bowlers–plenty of lift and variation–soon had the Sri Lankans two wickets down for not many runs, and they had the fast outfield to thank for most of those.
The back of the FSL innings was broken however by Senor Wayne. Living up to his name, van Damage pounced on a prod to silly mid-on and, in one motion, threw down the stumps as the batsman found himself languishing on the wrong side of the crease. The skipper seeing V.D. so rampant then asked him to bowl. By the second ball, he had shattered the stumps again. He was almost involved in another run out in his next over but was thwarted by a prematurely dislodged bail. Eagle-eye McGree wins the fairplay award for that one.
With the quicks all exploiting the conditions for swing, wickets continued to tumble: Kiwi 2-28, Hebel 2-14ish, Wayne 2-14. Tim May also came back to bamboozle the batsmen and picked up 1-11. To be fair though there was a slight wag in the FSL tail. Fortune favours the brave it is said, and perhaps those with a heavy bat. In any event, 30 runs were added for the 7th wicket.
The end finally came however when Sembian was brought into the attack. Perhaps his match fitness leaves something to be desired–he managed only 3 deliveries–but he snapped up the last two wickets. The first ball was top-edged by the slogger and comfortably taken by Hazza. The second was an unsightly dot ball. Then the third ball was knicked to second slip, where Blades showed he was as sharp as ever, broken finger or not. FSL 82 all out off around 27 overs.
Lunch was a happy combination of ham and cheese sandwiches and chips–thanks Chef Khanna–but because Des Twinings Bradley was away and only he knows how to use the urn, the MCC had to go without tea.
The luncheon interval lasted just long enough for the opening pair to pad up and put their shirts back on. But once out in the middle, they made it look like they’d been there all day. Van Driver was in particularly good nick and Steve the Stare Power kept the strike rotated and the runs ticking over. Curiously, the FSL bowlers had seemed a lot quicker in practice or maybe they didn’t open with their best.
Either way, by the time Nelson was brought into the attack, the chase was almost half over. Wayne finally went bowled for 30 in a partnership of 49 for the first wicket. Hebel joined Power, the 50 was brought up in the 15th over, and then Steve found himself adjudged LBW for 9.
This brought in Parry who arrived at the crease to cries of “Boring” and “You call this entertainment?” from one of the less impressed spectators. Whether the batsmen were concerned about reaching the rain target (65 off 20 overs) or Parry’s calling left something to be desired, but at this point the boundaries started to come. Matt got two and Willing four, including a crushing cover drive that would have made David Gower ill. Then with the score on 82-2, Hebel (21) and Parry (9)–both looking for glory–were bowled by consecutive deliveries just to make the things look more unrespectable. It was left to Sembian and Lovell to take the asterisks; the very next ball took the edge of Captain Lovelli’s mandolin down to third man for 2 scampered runs. MCC 84-4 off 21 overs and win number four of the campaign.
MCC Batsman chasing 83 to win
Van dalsum
Bowled
30
Power
LBW!
9
Hebel
Bowled
21
Dr.Parry
Bowled
9
Sembian
Not out
0*
Lovell
Not out
2*
Blades
Dnb
0
Bostock
Dnb
0
Mcgree
Dnb
0
Khanna wk
Dnb
0
Finch
Dnb
0
TOTAL
20.2 overs
84-4
FSL all out for 82. MCC WON BY 6 WKTS.
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Bostock
8
3
28
1
Beachball Mcgree
7
3
10
1
Hebel
8
1
17
2
Van Halen
3
1
14
2
Pass Power
3
1
12
1
Sembian
0.3
0
0
2
MATCH REPORT MUNICH CC V PAK ORIENT JUNE 29, AWAY SOMEWHERE IN THE STICKS
Cast of Characters
Mark ‘Chief Meteorological Pessimist’ Lovell (c)
Tony ‘Vice’ Blades (vc)
Van Driver
Willing ‘n Hebel
Roid Grier
Hazza Khanna (wk)
Sembian ‘Shabash’ Appavu
Kiwi Bostock
Paul ‘all the wool from NZ’ Scott
Nav ‘What, there’s a German here?’ Sharma
Ian ‘Jonty’ Finch;
And special guest: Greg “I’m the bloody scorer, so why am I on the field?” Holmes
It was a fine day that greeted the cast somewhere in whoop whoop at the Pak Orient’s home ground, as the cast assembled for what was in effect the game to decide who would be walking away with the prize this year. The local press had also decided to show up, with an article appearing in the Süddeutsche Zeitung as a result.
Pak Orient won the toss and decided to bat. Paul Scott opened the bowling – a slashing edge went for 4 off the first delivery and it proved to be one of those days.
After some brisk early scoring, Scott managed to get a top edge from Mansoor, who was caught well by the Kiwi at fine leg. It didn’t slow the scoring, however, as Soliman was agriculturally aggressive. In the fifth over, with quite a few runs on the board already, a single moment altered the course of the match: Soliman, already on around 20 runs skied a ball off Paul Scott. Both Roid (mid-off) and Finch (cover) ran to catch it having eyes only for the ball. A sickening collision ensued. There was a lot of blood, and an Ambulance arrived taking both players to hospital. Finch had a cut under his eye stitched up, while Roid had a slight concussion and a lip as fat as Mick Jagger’s – or perhaps looking like he’d been injecting Steroids straight into his face. Roid had actually caught the ball and had it jarred out with the collision. It left the MCC reduced to 9 ‘fit’ men and Soliman still very much in (ultimately scoring 58). Greg the scorer was called up to take his place on the field to help the side, but with a player down and 2 of the best fielders of the club being raced to the Krankenhaus, even Greg’s best efforts couldn’t cover the loss in the field.
The MCC, still battled on valiantly, but all the bowlers were taken apart by some big hitting by the Pak Orient side. Wickets tended to fall at regular intervals, but many more balls were skied and landed in gaps, and though the run-rate slowed a little for a few overs around the 30 over mark, some late hitting from Waqar ensured that the MCC were in for a tough chase.
In the end, Andy Hebel was the least expensive and picked up 2 wickets, but a high scoring last over ruined even his figures. Scott and Blades each picked up 3 wickets, as Pak Orient piled on 268 runs from their 40 overs.
It was a tall order for MCC who had benefited from the return of ‘Louisville Lip’ Grier in the innings break ready to take his place in the batting line-up.
In the absence of Steve Power, Hazza opened as a pinch hitter with Van Dalsum. The move didn’t pay off and after mistiming almost every delivery, and being hopelessly outscored by Van Damage, Hazza eventually edged one to fly slip having scored only 4. This brought Hebel to the crease. We needed a big innings from him, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be, as he was out caught at short cover (somewhat controversially) for 7. But, by his own admission, he could easily have been out LBW shortly before that. Out came Jason ‘Jagger’ Grier to join Van Damage in steadying the ship and both players scored quite freely. Just as they were looking good, and Pak Orient a little rattled, Van Damage hit the ball straight back to the bowler for a well-compiled 31. Roid kept going, though and was starting to look very good, while Lovell provided good support. Again, the Pak Orient started to worry, as Roid took several boundaries off one over, but just as he reached 50, he cut a ball straight to point. Kiwi scored 15 even without his much needed batting bifocals. Semby came and went after having saved the team a few times with the bat this season was unable to repeat on this occasion. And when skipper Lovell was bowled for 35 with the score at 162, the game was as good as gone with the fat bearded lady loosening her vocal chords. In the end, Blades and Sharma ensured that some respectability was maintained through a good partnership for, what was effectively, the last wicket (Finch having not returned). The final MCC score was 199.
MCC’s first league defeat in two years. SHOCK! HORROR! With the sunshine fading, the players left the ground. Beaten, but firm in the belief that the gods were not smiling on them that day.
Written by Hazza.
MCC Batsman chasing 280, yes I repeat 280 to win
Van dalsum
Caught&Bowled
31
Khanna wk
Caught
4
Hebel
Caught short mid-off
7
Grier
Caught point
51
Lovell
Bowled
35
Sembian
Bowled
1
Bostock
Caught
15
Blades
Not out
24*
Mcgree
Dnb
0
Sharma.N.
Not out
8
Finch
Injured- absent
0
TOTAL
40 overs
199-8
MCC lost by 80 runs. Pocc 279-8 off 40 overs
Bowler
O
M
R
W
Scott (4 jumpers only)
8
0
54
3
Bostock
8
1
43
0
Hebel
8
2
37
2
Van Halen
3
0
19
0
Blades
7
0
66
3
Sembian
6
0
49
0
MATCH REPORT MUNICH CC V TEGERNSEE
Final League Game at Tegernsee 27 July 2002
After rumblings at Munich train station with a couple of liabilities nearly missing the train, it was smooth sailing all the way to beautiful Tegernsee. Kiwi was even good enough to buy a cricket magazine for wildman McGree to read the entire trip.
Once at the ground more rumblings started as to who was going to be detailed 12th man for the day. There were already volunteers a plenty. The MCC hierarchy of Richter Des, Lovell and v.D finally arrived well after the train possee in Badly’s luxurious Merc, having as usual enjoyed Matt Munro’s greatest hits including the obligatory ‘Born Free’ on the car stereo. It was (perhaps) harshly decided to keep Bradley concentrating on the scorebook rather than the corner volleyball court. Such was the possible temptation from the petite Arian blond in the bikini strutting her stuff in the sandy distance.
Anyway to the cricket and here was the team for the day:
LOVELL (happy as Larry) Herr Captain
Tony BLADES Grieg
STEVIE (workaholic) POWER
J.C VAN DAMAGE (Father Ted)
KIWI (where are my specs?) BOSTOCK
Francis KHANNA Weissbier
PAUL (country bumpkin) MCGREE
Dr. (of Gynecology I believe?) PARRY
NAV SNAKE CHARMA
PAULY HARTLIDGE
ME (FlowerPot) CRANKY HEBEL
Not forgetting Chairman & Scorer – Richter Des Bradley (but he’s paid his subs!)
Comments from Tony (Blades) Grieg before the match on the pitch and weather conditions:
Thank-you Richie, well welcome to our readers who have just joined us from Munich. Today’s weather doesn’t look all that flash at the moment however the surroundings here look a treat. And so does the eye candy over at the beach volleyball court. Rather fine indeed. Anyway, back to the pitch and weather, the ground is very wet and the grass very thick. Could almost imagine we were somewhere else. But anyway the short boundaries should make up for any runs lost due to heavy conditions. The bowlers could have some trouble with the Flicx mat under foot and will have to be careful not to break a leg. Otherwise, the weatherman tells me it should be clearing a little this afternoon.
Anyway with us now is Mark (Tubby Taylor) Lovelli the skipper of MCC and Moritz, skipper of Tegernsee for the toss (of the coin). And would you believe it, Mark has won his first toss (of the coin) in 5 years and very smartly has elected to kick with the wind (bat).
Comments from the super skipper: “Old Devonian proverb Tony – win the toss and bat you Sarf Efriken barsteward”.
Thank-you for those riveting words Mark.
Now back to you Rich in the central missionary position.
With the end of the season in sight and the batting award up for grabs, Van Driver and his partner in crime Dr Parry walked to the crease with the expectation of a big score and a chance to settle the batting prize once and for all.
With some wayward bowling to the left hand-right hand combination, Van Driver made the bowling side pay heavily for their misdirection increasing the score with increments of 4 or 6 instead of the impossible 1’s or 2’s.
The score was moving along nicely until Dr. Parry decided he had had enough and thought he would give the flowerpot a chance, departing the scene for a well-compiled 18. In hindsight, that wasn’t the smartest thing to do, as Hebel was back in the pavilion very quickly getting out in one would have to say very village fashion. Dragging the ball back on to his stumps with his foot.
Team player though he is Hebel knew that the skipper was positively itching for a bat. He and Van Driver consolidated the innings pushing the score along to 5 an over after the first 20. During the next 10 overs with some accurate bowling, Tegernsee managed to peg back the scoring rate limiting the skipper and van Driver to just under 4 an over off the 10 overs.
The intelligent and relatively careful batting however paid off with the in form batsmen at the crease for the last 10 overs. With some intelligent and powerful hitting from both the skipper and Van Driver, 100 runs were put on in the last 10 overs. Van Driver eventually feeling sorry for the home side skied a catch to mid wicket which was evidently dropped and decided to give them another one being caught at long on for an excellent 93.
Mark continued with his blazing run ending up at the end of the 40 overs with 82 n.o, well assisted in the last 2 overs by Francis Khanna Weissbier who also finished not out with three, despite trying persistently to run out the tiring skip with his Pamplona running style.
Lunch was then taken and the innings turned around with Bunty Blades and Pass Power taking the new pill. Blades finished with 0 8 off 3 with the ball swinging left right and centre. Power’s accurate bowling reaped early rewards for his side and finished with 2 13 off 6. Paul Hart had a chop finishing with 1 17 off 4 and Snake Charma 1 21 off 8. Flowerpot had a go but was taken off after being lifted over the fence from a badly executed slower ball finishing with 0 8 off 4. And Blind Bostock finished it off with the last wicket claiming 1 2 off 1.2.
The pick of the bowlers however was Paul country bumpkin McGree who devastated the Tegernsee innings with the figures of 4 32 off 7 with his darts. All together ‘well bowled Paul’.
Flower plot also chipped in with a very arsy run out somewhere in the middle of all that.
So MCC making 3 for 238 off their allotted 40 overs rolled the opposition for 109.
MEN OF THE MATCH:
Wayne Van Damage 93
Marky captain cranky Lovelli 82 n.o.
Paul wild man McGree 4-32
MCC 228-3 off 40overs
SCOREBOOK
Batsman
Van Driver Caught 93
Dr Parry Unusually Caught 18
F.Pot Hebel Unusually Bowled 4
Average Lovell NOT OUT 82
Khanna NOT OUT 3
Power
Bostock
McGree
Blades
Hart
N.Sharma
TOTAL 40 overs (3 Wkts) 238
Bowler O M R W
Power 6 1 13 2
Blades 3 0 8 0
Hebel 4 0 8 0
Hart 4 0 17 1
Sharma 8 1 21 1
McGree 7 0 32 4
Bostock 1.2 0 2 1
Tegernsee 109 all out
MCC won by 119 runs
Finish league with 5-1 record. Lose league on countback??. To be confirmed after ongoing legal wranglings in German high courts.
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